RADNOR, Pa. — Villanova’s Andy Talley makes no bones about it. The schedule has been favorable to his Wildcats, especially once Villanova got into the FCS portion of the slate.

“I think it’s allowed us to grow and get better as a team,” Talley said.

Saturday, the Wildcats (4-1 overall, 2-0 CAA) take another step up in class when they host Richmond (3-2, 1-1) at Villanova Stadium (6 p.m.)

Talley called Richmond the most talented team Villanova has played, a pretty bold statement considering Villanova opened the season with Big East member Temple.

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Oh, the Wildcats were beaten 41-10 by the Owls.

“I think Temple’s running backs are better, but I think Richmond’s overall depth in the skill positions is better,” Talley said. “They have a lot of weapons at wide receiver and at quarterback. They can hurt you in a lot of ways.”

This will be the toughest test for a Villanova defense that has been stout in the last four weeks. The Wildcats have not allowed more than 14 points in a game since that loss to Temple in the opener and has racked up 11 quarterback sacks in the last two weeks. The Spiders (3-2, 2-1) come into the game third in the CAA in scoring offense (35.8 ppg.) and second in passing offense.

Richmond gave fourth-ranked Old Dominion all it could handle last week before falling, 42-35.

“Ben Edwards, one of their wideouts, is one of the faster kids in the league and a real threat,” Talley said. “They have two terrific running backs in Kendall Gaskins and Javon Smith. Both running backs are at the highest level in the CAA. Their quarterback (John Laub) is a runner and a passer and a guy you’re going to have to deal with.”

Laub, a senior, is second in the conference in total offense (278.8 yards per game) and third in passing yards (244.4).

Villanova’s offense is pretty good, too. The Wildcats have the best rushing attack in the CAA and the eighth best ground game in the FCS (256.4). Sophomore Kevin Monangai has been the workhorse there. He leads the CAA in rushing (102.8), but is not the only Wildcat listed among the conference leaders. Quarterback John Robertson and running back Austin Medley are ranked ninth and 10th, respectively.

“It’s a good challenge for us,” Talley said. “We’ll see how good we’re getting.”

Stevenson at No. 17 Widener

The Pride (5-0 overall, 3-0 MAC) return home for a 1 o’clock kickoff Saturday after receiving their first challenge of the season. Widener had to rally for a 40-37 victory over Lebanon Valley.

After outscoring its first four opponents, 265-23, it was a test the Pride needed.

“For our guys, just the look in their eyes after the game was nice for me,” Widener coach Isaac Collins said. “It was humbling. I don’t think they felt that they were that much better than Lebanon Valley, but I just think that up until that point where they have never been put in the position where they were behind that late in a game. Only time will tell what kind of effect it had. I’m curious to see how our guys respond against a good opponent.”

Don’t be fooled by Stevenson’s record. The Mustangs (1-4, 1-3) have been in every game. They lost to Albright in overtime (29-22), gave four-time champ Delaware Valley a tussle (34-10) and lost by three to Lebanon Valley (31-28) before beating Misericordia, 35-7, for their first win.

Widener leads Division III in scoring (60.2 ppg.), is second in tackles for loss per game (11) and third in passing offense (351.2). Quarterback Chris Haupt needs two touchdown passes to become the program leader in that category.

Kutztown at Cheyney

Cheyney’s defense will be put to the test when the Golden Bears visit O’Shields-Stevenson Stadium Saturday (1 p.m.).

Kutztown ranks second in the PSAC in scoring offense (44.0), third in passing offense (354.6) and fourth in total offense (458.6). The offense received a boost last week with the return of quarterback Kevin Morton and running back Josh Mastromatto from the injury list.

The Wolves (1-4, 0-2) have made strides. Cheyney put a season-high 27 points on the board two weeks ago and hung tough with Mercyhurst before falling in the second half, 36-10.

The Mechanics (0-4) will try to right the ship when they visit George Mason (1-2) Saturday (3 p.m.). It’s been a struggle. Turnovers have been a problem and the offense has not been able to put more than six points on the board in each of the last two games.

George Mason is coming off a 45-32 loss to Valley Forge Military College, but has scored at least 30 points in its last two games.